Control for multiple outlet fluid discharge system



Nov. 4, 1958 E. B; ARENSON 2,858,850 CONTROL FOR MULTIPLE OUTLET FLUID DISCHARGE SYSTEM Filed Oct. 27. 1954 FRoM '2/ INVENTOR.

D l v I faward 5. Are/7500 n 1 rank: Ys

United States Patent CONTROL FOR. MULTIPLE OUTLET DISCHARGE SYSTEM Edward B. Arenson, Toledo, Ohio Application" October 27, 1954, Serial' No. 465,087

1 Claim. (.Cl.137625'11) This invention relates primarily to water sprinkling systems for lawns or the like, wherein a single source of water supply is connected to a plurality of sprinkler or other outlets and is intended as a control for such systems and to function to automatically supply water or other fluid from the same pressure source successively in predetermined order to diiferent outlets.

While such a control is broadly old, it has been the purpose, so far as I am aware with all of such controls heretofore used, to utilize a considerable portion of the water or fluid line pressure in operating the control. Such a control has been found to be especially objectionable for use in sprinkling systems and in areas where the water pressure is low, as is continually the case in some locations supplied from a central water source and is usually the case in hot weather where a water supply system is subjected to peak or extremely heavy loads during certain sprinkling periods in the day. While the water pressure at such times may be suflicient either to effect operation of the control valve, or to effect a low or reduced pressure sprinkling, it may not be sufiicient to effect both operations at the same time, thus rendering the system inoperative or unsatisfactory for use under such condition.

The object of the present invention is to obviate the above objections by the provision of a water distribution control which is capable of operating by use of a very small amount of the water volume and pressure so as to have substantially no eifect on the pressure and volume of the water at the point of discharge.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a control embodying the invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, designates a water dis tributing cylinder preferably disposed in upright position and having a plurality of discharge conduits 11 leading laterally therefrom in predetermined vertically spaced relation. In the present instance, the conduit connections with the interior of the cylinder 10 are equidistantly spaced and the conduits lead to respective sprinkler heads or points of discharge (not shown) as well understood in the art.

The elongated tubular valve member 12 is mounted in the cylinder 10 for longitudinal reciprocatory movements therein and has at its lower end a plunger head 13 provided with a side port or opening 14 positioned to successively register with the inner ends of the conduits 11 as the valve tube is raised and lowered in the cylinder. The port 14 communicates through a central bore in the plunger with the lower end of the valve tube. The tube extends up through a suitable opening in the upper end of the cylinder 10 and connects without the cylinder with a source of water pressure supply through a flexible 2,858,850 Patented Nov. 4, 1958 through apackingugland-H at such end and is attached to the adjacent end of. across-head 20 fixed centrally of its ends to theupper end portion of the valve tube 12. The two'cylinders. 16 and 16,, are mounted attjtheir lower. ends ina base plate 2-1. and have suitable openings 21 through the base plate- 2 1;for ventnand drainage purposes.

At one side of the cylinder set near its upper end is a cross fluid pressure distributing manifold 23 having communication with the upper end of each cylinder 16 through a respective connection 24. One end of the manifold 23 is connected through a pipe 25 to the source of water or other fluid pressure supply used in the distributing system and with which the tube 15 is connected. A hand controlled valve 26, preferably of the needle type, is disposed in the connection between the manifold 23 and pipe 25 to permit fine adjustment of the fluid pressure flowing from pipe25 to the manifold and into the two power cylinders. The manifold 23, at its other end, has connection through a hand controlled valve 27 and a pipe 28 with one of the distributing conduits 11, thus permitting regulated relief of pressure from the manifold 23 and the connected cylinders 16 to take place, the valve 26 being closed.

It is apparent that in the operation of the control means for the successive distribution of water or other fluid pressure through the distributing conduits 11, the drainage valve 27 is closed and, after raising the cross-head 20 and connected valve tube 12 and piston rod 18, the pressure supply valve 26 is opened the desired extent to permit admission of the pressure fluid to the manifold 23 and through it to the upper end of each power cylinder 16. This forces the pistons 17 and valve tube 12 slowly downward in the respective cylinders and causes the discharge port 14 in the valve head 13 to successively register from top to bottom in predetermined timed relation with the several distributing conduits 11. The cylinders 16 are of small capacity so that two of them together when full preferably hold less than a quart of operating liquid. It will thus be seen that the control of water distribution is effected without any significant loss of water pressure and volume in the system. After closing the valve 26 and opening the valve 27, the pressure in the two power cylinders is permitted to ex haust into a distributing conduit 11 and the cross-head 20, With attached members, may then be easily raised for resetting the control.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claim.

What I claim is:

In a fluid pressure distributing system comprising a base plate, a plurality of cylinders mounted thereon in parallel relation, the outside cylinders having pistons therein and being power cylinders, said base having opening. therein communicating with the power cylinders, said pistons having connecting rods projecting through the end of the cylinders removed from the base plate, both ends of the connecting rods being attached to a crosshead, the cross-head also being attached to an elongated valve tube projecting into an intermediate cylinder, said intermediate cylinder having aligned equally spaced distributing conduits in the wall thereof, said valve tube being hollow and having at one end a side port commum'catmoved from the side port for a fluid pressure source,

means for moving in unison the-power pistons and the elongated valve-tube with its discharge port past the distributing conduits in the wall of the cylinder comprising a manifold interconnecting the topsof the power cylinders above the pistons therein, a first pipe having a first contrOl valve therein 'interposedbetween a fluid pressure source and said manifold to admit fluid pressure to move the pistons and the elongated valve in one direction, a

second pipe connected between the manifold and one of said distributing conduits, a second control valve in said second pipe whereby said power cylinders can be drained at the end of the power stroke;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thomas June 3, 1924 Brooks Aug. 31, 1926 Hall Oct. 16, 1934 Hertz Mar. 27, 1945 Crane June 14, 1949 Fleischhauer June 9, 1953 Tigert June 16, 1953 Hopkins Mar. 29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS France of 1925 

